Air cooling apparatus



Dec. 13, 1932. J. Q. SHERMAN 1,890,888

AIR cooLIfiG APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1926 {Shuts-Shut l RA/v 2%Qmvma n ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1932. J. Q. SHERMAN AIR coomuc APPARATUS Fil'ed Jun 2a, .1926

2 Shuts-Shut 2 NVENTOR. CR Q mw Patented Dec. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN G. SHERMAN, OF DAYTON, OHIO AIR COOLING APPARATUS REllSSUED Application. filed June 26, 1926. Serial No. 118,783.

My invention relates to ventilating systems and more particularly to an air cooling apparatus for use in residences, hospital rooms, hotels, club rooms and the like. The apparatus is designed to not only cool the air but to insure circulation and to humidify the circulated air by restoring to it the moisture of condensation. In the present invention is contemplated the use of a refrigerating unit 0 in combination with a fan or blower which will circulate a current of air over and through the expansion or absorption coils of a refrigerating apparatus, which will absorb from the circulated current of air a portion of its heat and at the same time restore to the cooled air, by evaporation, the moisture which shall have condensed upon such refrigeration coils during the cooling process. 0 The use of domestic or private refrigeration apparatus in homes, hotels, hospitals and clubs has become quite common. Such refrigeration units as ordinarily designed are given a very large factor of refrigeration capacity in excess of the normal requirements of a particular installation. It is quite common to give to such domestic or private refrigeration unit such excess capacity as to require the operation during only one fourth to one third of the time; that is to say for each period of active operation of the compressor, such apparatus will thereafter remain idle for two to three times such period. It is contemplated that the present air cooling apparatus may be installed as an adjunct to such private or domestic refrigeration system and be operated thereby, utilizing a portion of the excess capacity of such refrigeration apparatus. The invention includes more particula'rly a compartment or passageway for the circulation of air, preferably having therein a series of bafiles or deflectors giving to the air a circuitous course during which it is brought into intimate contact with a succession of refrigeration coils. This air passage discharges into the room that is to be cooled. The operation of the fan or blower for the air as Well as the valve controlling the flow of refrigerant through such coils may be govcrncd thermostatically in accordance with fluctuations of room temperature.

The object of invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of air circulating and cooling apparatus whereby it will not only be cheaper in construction but will be more efiicient in operation, uniform in action, capable of being economically operated and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of invention is to provide air cooling and circulating apparatus capable of use in connection with a domestic or private refrigerating apparatus by utilizing a portion of the excess capacity of the refrigerating unit, but which air cooling apparatus is further capable of operation as a separate installation wholly independent of' other cooling chambers, food refrigeration compartments, or ice making apparatus.

A further object of invention is to provide ventilating and cooling apparatus which 7 will restore to the cooled air the extracted moisture of condensation.

A further object of invention is to provide for automatically controlling the ventilating and cooling apparatus in accordance with 7 fluctuations of temperature.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specifications, the invention con-. sists of features of construction, the parts 30 and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein are shown the preferred but obviously not 5 necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is a front elevat on of a typical domestic. refrigeration insallat on to which the present air cooling and humidifying apparatus has been connected. Fig. 2 is a perspective view partlv broken away of the air cooling and humidfying apparatus disconnected from the compressor and circulatory system for the refrigerant. F g. 3 is a top plan view of the cooling and humidifving apparatus in a slightly modified form. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively side and front elevations of a furthermodification of the air cooling and hum difying apparatus wherein the cooling or refrigerant coils are applied directly to a conventional form of electric fan. Fig. (5 shows the cooling apparatus applied to a blower of the centrifugal type in lieu of an electric fan. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a thermostatically operated shutter for the air discharge opening. Fig-8 illustrates a further modification employing a suction fan in l eu of a blower. Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a domestic re frigcration installation of which 1 is the usual household refrigerator for containing and cooling food. in the ice compartment 52 of which are located the expansion co ls 3 of the system The refrigerator coils 3 are connected by a suction or exhaust conduit -l with a motor driven compressor The exhaust gas from the coil 3 is drawn into the compressor 5 and there compressed and discharged through a condensor F. in which the compressed refrigerant is' reduced to l quid form. The lionelied refrigerant is stored in a receiver or reservoir 7 from which it is supplied to the coils 3 in the household refrigerator 1 through the snpplv conduit 8.

At the right in Fig. l'is shown the air cooling and hun'iidifying apparatus forming the subject matter hereof. While this appa atus may be embodied in various forms, for illustrative purposes it has been shown in the drawngs n a simplified form of embodiment as an adjunct to or supplemental to the domestic refrigerating apparatus. It will be understood. however, that while for economy of installation and operation it may be desirable to combine the present air cooling and humidify'ing apparatus with a domestic or private refrigerating system and so utilize the excess capacity of such system. it is to be understood that the domestic refrigerator 1 and refrigeration coils may be omitted and the compressor 5, condenser (5 and receiver 7 may be utilized solely for one or more air cooling and hnmidifying units as shown at the rightin Fig. 1 and further illustrated n remaining Figures 2 to 6 inclusive.

This apparatus in its simplified form comprises a compartment or air tunnel 1O discharging into the room or chan'iber to be cooled. Located within the compartment or tunnel 10 is an expansion coil 11, through which is circulated a refrigerating medium. One extremity of the coil 11 is connected through the conduit 12 with the supply conduit 8 leading from the receiver 7. The return or exhaust conduit 4 is connected with the opposite end of the coil 11 thrmigh a branch exhaust conduit 13. Located at one end of the compartment or tunnel 10 is a fan or blower 14. In lieu of a blast fan such fan may be of the suction type as shown in Fig. 8 in which case the air is drawn through the compartment. For convenience of illustra tion this blower has been shown in the several figures as a conventional type of electric fan. The stream of air discharged from such blower or fan 14: passes through the comparti'nent 1t) and past the successivev turns or convolutions of the coil 11 and discharged from the opposite end of the compartment 10 through an opening 15 preferably provided with a suitable gr ll work or lattice 15 covering such opening. \Vhile for illustrative purposes the coils 3 and 11 are shown con nccted in parallel or in mutiple it is obvious they may be connected in series, since the coil 11 is required to produce a much less degree of cooling elt'ect than the coil 3. The compartment 10 and the coil 11 may be of any suitable length according to the character of refrigerantcn'rployed, the size of the conduit forming the coil. the rapidit v-with which the air is cooled and the desired degree of temperature. There is shown in Fig. 1 a thermostatic switch 16 which not only controls the motor driving the fan or blower 14-, but also controls an electrically operated valve 17 controlling the flow of refrigerant through the coil 11.

In Fig. '2 there is shown a modification wherein the compartment or tunnel 1.0 is provided with a series of battles 18 which tend to resist or retard the flow of air. In this instance the refrigerating coil 11 is located adjacent to the blower or fan 14 and in advance of the first battle 18 of the series. The eti'ect of the battles 18 in retarding the flow of air is to hold the body of air for a longer period in close associat on with the refrigeration coil 11 thereby cooling'the air to a lower degree. After passing through the tortuous passage. the air is discharged through the outlet 15 as before described. Fig. 3 illustrates a similar construction wherein the bafiles are horizontally oifset instead of vertically ofl'set as in Fig. 2. Furthermore, in Fig. 8, the refrigerating unit is shown formed in a suc- Cessiou of interconnected sections 11, one of which is located in each of the chambers or subcompartnients between the successive baliles 18. Instead of providing an electrically operated controlled valve for the refrigerant coil. as shown in Fig. 3, a hand operated valve 19 may be used by which the flow of refrigerant may be regulated. Liliewise, if so desircth the actuating motor for the fan or blower 14 may 'ie n'ianually turned on and oft in lieu of the tl'iermostatic control shown in Fig. 1. In Figs. 4: and 5 is shown a further modification wherein the turns or convolutions of the refrigeration unit or coil are formed into a "age 20 mounted upon an electric fan 21. This refrigerant coil 20 is positioned directly in front of the fan, which when in operation discharges air through the coils or turns of the refrigeration unit. Thus an electric fan used in the ordinary manner is made to deliver cooled air. Fig. 6 shows a somewhat similar constructionwherein a centrifugal blower 22 delivers air through a tunnel or passage 23 in which is locatedthc refrigeration coil 24.. This coil 24 is directly in the path of the air delivered from the blower through the passage 23, to cool the passing air.

The cooling of warm air as is well known causes the condensation of moisture. In the ordinary refrigeration apparatus as shown at 3 in Fig. 1 this moisture appears as a coating of frost or ice upon the expansion coils within the refrigerator. However, inasmuch as the air cooling apparatus will seldom if ever be operated at.or below freezing temperature, frost or ice will not ordinarily be formed upon the coils but this moisture will be deposited as drops of water. Much of these water drops will be evaporated and entrained with the passing current of air from the fan or blower. Any excess of moisture not blown away, or immediately returned to the passing current of air will be deposited as drip in the bot om of the compartment or tunnel 10. To this end the bottom of the compartment 10 is provided with a condensation receptacle 25, which will receive any excess moisture. To increase the humidity of the cooled air, if desired, an additional supply of Water may be added to the condensation in the pan 25. The current of air passing over this body of water in the pan or receptacle 25 will tend to evaporate the water and take up moisture until it is fully charged or humidified before being discharged through the outlet 15 into the room or chamber to be cooled.

Although not essential to the operation, the outlet 15 may be provided with an adjustable shutter or closure 26, to be closed when the air circulation apparatus is not in operation in order that the temporary operation of the refrigerating coil within the compartment may reduce the temperature therein preparatory to the next operation of the fan or blower. Such shutter or closure for the outlet 15 may be manually operated or may be operated mechanically from the fan or blower. The shutter vanes 26 are preferably provided with light closure springs which tend to normally close the shutter vanes. The vanes are opened against the tension of such springs by the pressure of the air blast from the fan or blower. Thus the thermostat 16 instopping the fan motor would also permit the closure of the outlet shutter and such shutter will open when the motor again starts. In such case the hand valve shown in Fig. 3 or a separate thermostatically controlled valve would preferably though not necessarily be employed to control the flow of refrigerant through the coils. An independent thermostatic control 27 may be prov ded for the shutter vanes 26 to automatically adjust the vanes of the shutter in accordance with variations of room temperature,or the-temperature of the current of cool air being delivered. By employing a thermostatic control for the fan or blower, and if desired also for the refrigerant coils, when the temperature of the room has been lowered by the operation of the apparatus or by outside weather conditions to the desired degree, the circulating fan 14 is automatically stopped. It is also desirable to shut off the flow of refrigerant through the coils at a predetermined temperature, which may be somewhat below that at which the fan stops, as otherwise the continned circulation of refrigerant therethrough would create an excessive degree of refrigeration within the compartment which would be useless, expensive and possibly injurious to the apparatus. To guard against the accumulation of excess water or condena sation an overflow outlet 28 is preferably provided from the pan 2-5.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from'the principle. involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhile inorder to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less s'pecific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of severa-lmodes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a ventilating apparatus of the character described, the combination with a re frigerating system having an excess capacity factor of an air cooling apparatus including a refrigerating coil additional to and removed from that of the refrigerating system but connected to and operated by said refrigerating system, an air compartment in which the coil is located, said compartment discharging into a chamber to be cooled, a blower directing a current of air through said compartment and about said coils into the chamher and thermostatic means controlling the operation of said air cooling apparatus independent of the refrigerating system.

2. In a ventilating apparatus of the char acter described, a mechanically operated refrigerating apparatus, an air cooling apparatus separate from said refrigerating apparatus, a compressor and condenser unit common to the refrigerating apparatus and air cooling apparatus, said air cooling apparatus including a refrigerating coil, means for circulating refrigerant thcrethrough, a compartment in which said coil is located, said compartment having an outlet into a room to be cooled and means for circulating a stream of air through the compartment past said coil and discharging it through the outlet opening into the room and thermostatic means for controlling the flow of air through said air. cooling apparatus independently of the operation of said refrigerating apparatus.

3. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating coil. means for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the coil is located, said compartment having an outlet into a room to he cooled, a blower for directing a current of air through the compartment, pastthe coil and into the room, and a water container over which the air passes prior to entering the room and a thermostatic control device located outside said compartn'ient independent of said blower for regulating the volume of air discharged thereby through said compartment.

at. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled. a blower for directing a current of air upon the refrigerating unit within the compartment and thence through the outlet into the room, and means located outside said compartment for thermostatiailly controlling the discharge of cooled air in accm'dance with fluctuations ot' temperature, said means controlling the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerating unit.

In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, a blower for directing a current of air upon the refrigerating unit within the compartment and thence through the outlet into the room, and means located outside. said compartment to :nuomatically regulating the supply of refrigerant to said unit in accordance with fluctuations of temperature.

(3. In a vci'itilating apparatus, the combination with a refrigerating apparatus of a separate air cooling unit, means common to the refrigerating apparatus and air cooling unit for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, a blower for directing a. current of air upon the refrigerating unit within the compartment: and thence through the outlet into the room, and means operating independently of the refrigerating apparatus for automatically controlling the quantity of cooled air discharged by operation of the blower in accordance with fluctuations of temperature.

7.. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, a blower for directing a current of air upon the refrigerating unit within the compartment through the outlet into the room, and means located in the room outside of the compartment for auton'iatically regulating the flow of air through said outlet into the room, said means controlling the refrigerant supplied to the unit.

8. In a ventilating apparatus, the combination with a refrigerating apparatus, of a separate air cooling unit, means common to the refrigerating apparatus and air cooling unit for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening, into a room to be cooled, a blower for directing a current of air upon the refrigerating unit within the wmparti'nent and thence through the outlet into the room, and means for controlling the operation of the refrigerating apparatus and the cooling unit imlepcmlcntlv of each other.

9. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant thereto, a. compartment. in which said refrigerating unit is located. having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, means for inducing a current of air through said com pertinent, a series of bullies dividing the compartment into a plurality of interconnected chambers tl'irough which the air is circulated said unit having successive portions thereof located in different chan'lhers and subiected successively to the passing current of air and a series of shutter devices adjustahl; regulated in accordance with the passing air current.

10. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant thereto. a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, means for inducing a flow of air through said con'ipartment, an adjustable shutter for the discharge outlet from said compartment and thermostatic control means for auto1naticall adjusting said shutter and initiating the flow of air through said compartment when the room temperature attains a maximum high degree and arresting such flow of air when the room temperature decreases to a predetermined low degree.

ll. In a ventilating apparatus, a rofrig crating unit, means for supplying refrigerant thereto, a compartn'ient in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled. means for inducing a llow of air through said conunirtment, and thermostatic control means common to both the air and reil'rigerant supplies and regulating the air cooling operation in accordance with fluctuations of the room-temperature.

12. In a ventilating apparatus, a refrigerating unit, means for supplying refrigerant thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located havin an outlet opening into a room to be coole means for inducing a flow of air through said compartment, and thermostatic means to control the air and refrigerant supplies and regulating the air cooling operation in accordance with fluctuations of the room and compartment temperatures.

13. The combination with a mechanically operated refrigerator, including a heat exchange unit for refrigerant and a separate air cooling apparatus also including a heat exchange unit for refrigerant, a com ressorcondenser unit common to. the refrigerator and air cooling apparatus, and a thermostatic control device associated with the refrigerator controlling the operation of the compressor-condenser unit independently oftheair cooling apparatus.

14. The combination with a mechanically operated refrigerator, includin I change unit for refrigerant an a separate air cooling apparatus also including a heat exchange unit for refrigerant, .a compressorcondenser unit common to the refrigerator and air cooling apparatus, means for inducing a flow of air through the air cooling apparatus, and thermostatic means for controlling the circulation of air through the air cooling apparatus independently of the circulation of refrigerant medium.

15. In a ventilating apparatus, a cooling unit, means for supplying refrigerant medium thereto, a compartment in which the unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be coo1ed,'a blower for directing a current of air upon the cooling unit within the compartment and thencethrough the outlet into the room, and means responsive to the room temperature for thermostatically controlling the discharge of the cooled air in accordance with fluctuations of temperature of the air in the room, and for controlling the refrigerant supplied to the cooling unit.

16. In a ventilating apparatus, a cooling unit, means for supplying refrigerant'medium thereto, a compartment in which 'the' unit is located having an outlet opening into a room to be cooled, ,'a blower for directing a current of air upon the cooling unit within the compartment and thence through the outlet into theroom, and. means responsive to the room temperature for automatically regu lating the supply of refrigerant to said unit in accordance with fluctuations of the temperature of the air'in .the room.

17. In a ventilating apparatus, a cooling unit about which a current of air to becooled is circulated, means for applying refrigerant thereto, a com artment in which the unit is located and having an outlet into a room to .JoHN Q. SHERMAN.

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